Futures Focus

The SET50 Index closed last week at 1,033.85 points, an increase of 30.68 points or 3.05% from the previous week. The most traded SET50 Futures contract S50U17 (expiring in September 2017) was settled at 1,035.80 points, an increase of 37 points or 3.7%.

US stock markets advanced last week, as comments by the US and European central bank chiefs reassured investors that no big monetary policy surprises were awaiting. The Dow gained 39 points on Friday on reports of improved US consumer spending, to finish the week at 21,987.56, an increase of 0.8% from 21,813.67 the week before. Geopolitical concerns sent gold past $1,300 an ounce after North Korea fired missiles over Japan.

In Thailand, the SET had its best week of the year, breaking 1,600 points and continuing to rise before closing at 1,618.42 on Friday, an increase of 2.7% from the week before. Investors were heartened by the best GDP performance in three years, as official data showed 3.7% expansion in the second quarter, supported by exports, tourism and agriculture. As well, the political temperature cooled following the flight of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra before the court ruling in her negligence case.

On the TFEX, daily average trading volume was 462,035 contracts, an increase of 283,845 contracts or 159.3% from the previous week. The most actively traded product was Single Stock Futures with 1,020,927 contracts or 204,185 per day. Total market open interest was 2,191,320 contracts, an increase of 113,493 contracts or 5.5%.